The cadre of civilian lawyers representing terrorism suspects held by the military at Guantanamo Bay are not allowed to meet their clients in private, without video surveillance. All their mail and notes must be turned over to the military. Classified information cannot be shared with their clients. They are not entitled to everything the government knows about their clients.
Months before the trials of some of the detainees are set to begin, some of the attorneys say the Defense Department’s regulations for their work are so onerous that they will be unable to provide a fair and adequate defense of their clients.
“How can I defend him if he is not allowed to see or hear classified information?” asked Brent Mickum, the Washington attorney representing alleged al-Qaeda operative Zayn al-Abidin Muhammed Hussein, commonly known as Abu Zubaida. “He can’t play a meaningful role in his own defense.”
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